Former Belarus keeper denies match-fixing role

MINSK, July 26 - Former Belarus goalkeeper Valery
Shantolosov, charged with trying to fix two of his country's
Euro 2004 qualifying matches, denied any wrongdoing on Thursday.

Belarus police have issued an arrest warrant for the
41-year-old after charging him with bribery and attempting to
influence the outcome of Belarus' Euro 2004 qualifiers against
the Czech Republic and Moldova in September 2003.

"I'm not even aware the police are looking for me,"
Shantolosov was quoted as saying by Belarussian Web site
Football.By.

"I'm not hiding, I've been back home many times and everyone
knows where I work. I think this is just a pure provocation."

Shantolosov retired as a player in 2005 and now works as
goalkeeping coach for Russian second division side Sibir
Novosibirsk.

Belarus lost 3-1 at home to the Czechs in Minsk on Sept. 6
and then in Moldova 2-1 four days later.

They finished bottom of their five-team group, winning just
one of their eight qualifying matches.

The Czechs won the group and qualified automatically for the
finals that were staged in Portugal the following summer.

Shantolosov did not play in either of the two games he is
charged with trying to fix after quitting the national team in
2002, but police alleged that he was part of an illegal Russian
betting ring.

He had played for several top flight clubs in Belarus,
Russia, Latvia and Kazakhstan and was also voted the best
goalkeeper in Belarus in both 2001 and 2002.